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Suspect killed, 2 injured in officer-involved shooting in Phoenix

Posted 12/22/19

A suspect is dead after an officer-involved shooting in west Phoenix. The incident happened before noon Monday, Dec. 23 near 75th Avenue and Thomas Road.

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Suspect killed, 2 injured in officer-involved shooting in Phoenix

Posted

A suspect is dead after an officer-involved shooting in west Phoenix.

The incident happened before noon Monday, Dec. 23 near 75th Avenue and Thomas Road.

Phoenix police said they responded to the area for a shots fired call. Callers had reported a suspect had attempted to take a 53-year-old woman's vehicle at gunpoint. However, the victim was able to drive away from the suspect. But as she fled, the suspect shot her.

The suspect continued to walk around the parking lot of the business and located a second victim, a 44-year-old woman, who was sitting inside her vehicle. Police said the suspect got into her vehicle and pointed a gun at her. The woman then exited and ran from the vehicle. However, the suspect shot at her, with at least one bullet striking a nearby 56-year-old man.

The suspect then drove away in the victim’s vehicle. Responding officers located the vehicle driving through the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Officers activated their lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

However, the suspect did not yield and police stated a pursuit. The suspect traveled around the area of the mall and as he approached the entrance of the mall an officer used his patrol vehicle to collided into the stolen vehicle. However, the vehicle was not disabled and the suspect continued driving around the parking lot.

Officers continued to pursue the suspect until he abruptly stopped in the parking lot south of the mall and exited the truck. Police said the suspect was armed with a gun and pointed it at the officers. Two officers shot at the suspect, striking and killing him.

Police identified the suspect as Richard L. Ruiz  38.

The officers who fired their weapons are 40 and 29 with 17 and 3 years of service, respectively.

No officers were injured and the two victims are expected to recover.